
Sunday, November 23, 2008

Turkey in 2003: March

MARCH 1

The Prime Ministry motion about dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces units in Turkey for a period of six months was rejected by the Parliamentary General Assembly.

MARCH 2

Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that Turkey-the United States relations would continue on the basis of mutual friendship and understanding.
Prime Minister Gul held a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. During the conversation, results of the parliamentary vote over the Prime Ministry motion were taken up.

MARCH 3

Holding a press conference, Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''I cannot make any comment about decision of the parliament on the Prime Ministry motion about dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces units in Turkey for a period of six months. Everything occurred in a democratic process.''
After rejection of the Prime Ministry motion, the United States postponed its modernization efforts in bases and ports in Turkey.

MARCH 4

Diyarbakir State Security Court (DGM) rejected the request of Necmettin Erbakan, the former leader of the banned Welfare Party (RP) for annulment of the imprisonment sentence against him and clearance of his record of conviction.

MARCH 5

General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok said that they did not put any pressure for approval of the Prime Ministry motion about dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad and deployment of foreign armed forces units in Turkey for a period of six months.
Calling out to leaders in northern Iraq, General Ozkok said, ''we have supported them in their most difficult days. We have never misled them or told lies. Those who forgot the past, cannot be the architects of the future.''

MARCH 6

A meeting was held at the Cankaya Presidential Palace on the Cyprus question. President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Prime Minister Abdullah Gul, General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok, TRNC Prime Minister Dervis Eroglu and Foreign Minister Yasar Yakis were in attendance at the meeting presided by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. The statement, which was released at the end of the meeting, stressed that the current plan of United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan was far away from removing basic concerns of the Turkish side and meeting its expectations.
In an address to the Parliamentary General Assembly, President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus said that many changes should be made in the plan of United Nations Secretary General Annan.
The parliament released a declaration in an effort to support Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The declaration emphasized that a solution should be found to the Cyprus question on the basis of equal status of the sides in Cyprus and the principle of equality.

MARCH 9

By-election was held in southeastern province of Siirt. Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan became a deputy.

MARCH 11

Prime Minister Abdullah Gul gave information about three-month activities of the 58th government. He said that the 58th government envisaged to carry out 39 activities in its Urgent Action Plan, and fulfilled 32 of them.
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan took oath at the parliament.
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul submitted the resignation of the 58th government to President Ahmet Necdet Sezer.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer designated Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan to form the 59th government.

MARCH 12

A group of people including Socialist Democracy Party (SDP) leader Akin Birdal attempted to hold a demonstration in front of Iskenderun Port in which the United States concentrated its military vehicles and equipment. Turkish soldiers opened fire in the air to disperse the group. Later, members of the group were detained.

MARCH 13

The Constitutional Court decided to ban the People's Democracy Party (HADEP).
Supreme Court of Appeals Chief Prosecutor Sabih Kanadoglu filed a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court with the request of closure of the Democratic People's Party (DEHAP).

MARCH 14

The 59th government of the Republic of Turkey was formed under the chairmanship of Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The number of ministries was decreased from 25 to 23.

MARCH 15

The Labor Security Law came into force. Under the law, employers cannot dismiss employees without reason.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan handed over his post from Abdullah Gul.
Transport of military vehicles and equipment from Iskenderun Port by trains started.

MARCH 17

A meeting was held at the Cankaya Presidential Palace to assess the developments in Iraq. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok and National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul attended the meeting presided by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer. Presidential Chief Advisor for Foreign Affairs Tacan Ildem said after the meeting, ''a full consensus of opinion was reached during the meeting that the government should take all necessary measures to protect the national interests of Turkey.''

MARCH 19

The Council of Ministers submitted a Prime Ministry motion about dispatch of Turkish soldiers to northern Iraq and giving permission to U.S. war planes to use the Turkish air zone, to the parliament.

MARCH 20

The U.S.-led military operation against Iraq started.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that there was not any change in his views about international legitimacy for the Iraq issue, adding that he did not consider the unilateral attitude of the United States rightful.
The Prime Ministry motion about dispatch of Turkish soldiers to northern Iraq and giving permission to U.S. war planes to use the Turkish air zone was approved by the parliament.

MARCH 21

Necmettin Erbakan returned to active politics by joining the Felicity Party (SP).
A meeting was held at the Prime Ministry Office about recent developments in Iraq. General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok and National Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul attended the meeting presided by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

MARCH 23

The 59th government led by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan got the vote of confidence.

MARCH 25

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan withdrew his applications from the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against Turkey.

MARCH 28

Re-trial of Leyla Zana, Hatip Dicle, Orhan Dogan and Selim Sadak, the former deputies of the Democracy Party (DEP), which was banned by the Constitutional Court, started at the State Security Court (DGM) no: 1. The court rejected the request of the suspects for release from prison.
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer returned the law decreasing the retirement age from 65 to 61 to the parliament for re-consideration.
At its monthly meeting, the National Security Council (NSC) expressed its wish that the U.S.-led military operation against Iraq would come to an end without giving rise to an atmosphere that could affect peace, stability and security in the region and causing more casualties.
A passenger plane of the Turkish Airlines (THY) bound from Istanbul to Ankara was hijacked by Ozgun Gencaslan. The plane landed at the Athens Airport. None of passengers including Justice and Development Party (AK Party) deputies Vahit Erdem, Turan Comez and Ali Riza Alaboyun were harmed.

MARCH 29

A two-story building collapsed in southern province of Adana due to a blast in the factory. A total of nine people lost their lives and 10 others were wounded.

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